Power Rankings Come Bearing Gifts

It must be the holiday season affecting one and all.

There's little other explanation for why the Bears retained positive, if not glowing remarks and rankings this week from those who do power rankings across the internet.

It's almost as if they won the game in Cleveland.

Apparently most of these people don't realize the wringing of hands going on in Chicago over a dropped Hail Mary by Darnell Mooney, a dropped bomb by Robert Tonyan Jr. and Justin Fields' wrong decision on fourth-and-1 to run it instead of flipping it to wide-open DJ Moore.

The third blown lead of 10 or more during the fourth quarter this season failed even to dampen spirits. Many polls mentioned, instead, how the takeaways have come down lately like a Christmas Eve snowstorm rather than the abundance of blown leads.

We'll see if all the positive vibes for everyone continue in three weeks when Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles announce their verdict on where this regime is heading.

For now, rejoice and know the next in a steady succession of saviors could be arriving only four or five months from now with the name of Caleb.

Yahoo Sports: 21st

Frank Schwab has a stocking full of positive goodies for the Bears as he promoted them two spots from No. 23 despite a loss and did make the comment, referring to Mooney's dropped Hail Mary, "You'd like to think the result of one game, or even one play, wouldn't change an organization's mind on big decisions, but it happens."

Not really. It's a combination of things. It always is.

The 33rd Team: 20th

They stayed in the same rather lofty position but the giftwrapped item from Ryan Reynolds? They're ahead of the Packers. Alas, it could be a lump of coal for Justin Fields, though, according to Reynolds.

"Chicago has enough talent to win its final three games, but it needs more stability on offense," Reynolds wrote. "If the Bears don’t get it from Fields, they could look for a new solution at quarterback in next year’s draft."

The Sporting News: 24th

Vinnie Iyer did a grinchy thing and dropped them a spot for the loss to 24th overall. He'd like to see Fields get the gift of offensive weaponry. "He needs another reliable weapon behind D.J. Moore, Cole Kmet," Iyer wrote.

NFL.com: 24th

Eric Edholm was as Scrooge-like as Iyer, dropping them to 24th from 23rd for the loss. Edholm pointed out the improvement in the Bears defense. as they are "...on a turnover tear over the past four games, forcing 14 (turnovers)."

SI.com: 22nd

Conor Orr doesn't want too much criticism of Fields for the last game. "Let's not forget that Justin Fields had that game won with a dropped Hail Mary, but also had another critical drop as he was setting the Bears up for a game-tying field goal," he wrote.

Actually, the other real drop was Tonyan's early in the game on a bomb that would not have been a touchdown but would have put them in scoring position.

CBS Sports: 24th

Pete Prisco wasn't generous with the poll ranking, down one spot, but did offer encouragement, a sort of "Jelly of the Month Club," the gift that keeps on giving, Clark.

"Losing to the Browns, blowing a lead, pretty much ends their playoff hopes. Watch out for this team next season, though," he wrote.

ESPN: 24th

Another one-place drop and their festival of turnovers was underscored with 12 interceptions since Week 11 but only six in the first 10 weeks and Montez Claus being lauded for bringing all of the joy with the "Sweat effect."

Fox Sports: 22nd

Claus himself couldn't have given out better gifts as they climbed two spots despite losing. David Helman even went for a more upbeat tone in his comment. "It's not a stretch to think this team could be 8-6 right now. Even as bad as that is, they're still clearly much better than they were at the start of the year."

It's not even close, and there couldn't be a better reason for keeping Eberflus.

USA Today: 24th

At this time of the year, Nate Davis sees it as better to take than to give and the Bears have 14 takeaways over four games, he points out in keeping them in the same spot despite the loss. "If QB Justin Fields can play that well down the stretch, GM Ryan Poles will be just awash in envious options once the offseason starts," he wrote.

NBC Sports/Pro Football Talk: 22nd

Also praising the Bears for the holidays was Mike Florio. "The future is getting brighter all the time, even with that loss," Florio wrote.

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